Video variation effects

Abstract

Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for introducing variation into a video clip, e.g., by (a) accessing an input video clip that includes a sequence of input video frames; and (b) providing a user interface through which a user is able to design an output video clip by specifying attributes for a set of output video frames, with such attributes: (i) being specified in reference to the input video frames, and (ii) including identification of which of the input video frames is to be used for individual ones of the output video frames.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory tangible medium storing computer-readable, computer-executable process steps for introducing variation into a video clip, wherein said process steps include steps to:
 (a) access an input video clip that is comprised of a sequence of input video frames; and   (b) provide a user interface through which a user is able to design an output video clip by specifying attributes for a set of output video frames,   wherein said attributes: (i) are specified in reference to the input video frames, and (ii) include identification of frames to be used for individual ones of the output video frames based on the input video frames, and   wherein the user interface allows the user to (i) specify a frame-selection pattern relative to generic corresponding input video frames and a specified segment of the output video frames, and then (ii) have said frame-selection pattern continuously repeated across the specified segment of the output video frames.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the user is able to individually assign specific ones of the input video frames to specific ones of the output video frames through the user interface. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface permits said frame-selection pattern to be specified by designating a selection of contiguous ones of the output video frames and selecting which of the input video frames are to be used for said contiguous ones of the output video frames. 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 1 , wherein said specified segment is specified by designating, through the user interface: a starting point and a fixed number of repetitions of said frame-selection pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 1 , wherein said specified segment is specified by designating, through the user interface: a starting point and an endpoint. 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 5 , wherein said process steps further include a step to (c) play the input video clip, and wherein the user interface permits the starting point and the endpoint to be designated in real time as the input video clip is played. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 6 , wherein the user interface has different frame-selection patterns mapped to different user-interface elements, and wherein at a point in time when one of said user-interface elements is designated, the frame-selection pattern then currently in effect ceases to be applied and the one of the frame-selection patterns that is mapped to said one of said user-interface elements instead is applied from said point in time forward. 
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 7 , wherein the user interface permits said different user-interface elements to be designated whenever desired in real time while the input video clip is played, resulting in corresponding real-time changes to which of the different frame-selection patterns is applied. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 8 , wherein in response to said designations of said different user-interface elements, said processing steps make corresponding modifications to the attributes for the set of output video frames, and wherein the user interface permits subsequent additional modifications to said attributes. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 9 , wherein said step (c) depicts in real time how the video will be displayed in response to said designations of said different user-interface elements. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface permits the user to further modify which of the input video frames is to be used for individual ones of the output video frames in the specified segment after the frame-selection pattern has been continuously repeated across the specified segment of the output video frames. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface permits said identification, of which of the input video frames is to be used for individual ones of the output video frames, to be performed arbitrarily. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 1 , wherein said attributes for the set of output video frames also include at least one display characteristic for individual ones of the output video frames. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 13 , wherein said at least one display characteristic comprises at least one of: saturation, color temperature or specific-color adjustment. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 13 , wherein said at least one display characteristic comprises brightness. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 13 , wherein said at least one display characteristic comprises at least one of lateral or vertical shift. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 13 , wherein said at least one display characteristic comprises scale/magnification. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 13 , wherein said at least one display characteristic comprises amount of application of a grain pattern. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory tangible medium according to  claim 13 , wherein said at least one display characteristic comprises amount of blur. 
     
     
         20 . A video produced using the process steps of  claim 1 , wherein as a result of said repeated application of the frame-selection pattern, the video exhibits variation in temporal frame separation, also referred to as non-metronomic time, during said repeated application. 
     
     
         21 . The video according to  claim 20 , wherein the input video clip was captured at a constant frame rate. 
     
     
         22 . The video according to  claim 21 , having a frame rate that is lower than said constant frame rate.